Combined side mount fuse indicator and lock-in device



Feb. 4, 1947. w. c. UNTON 2,415,299

COMBINED SIDE MOUNT FUSE INDICATOR AND LOCK-IN DEVICE Filed Oct 10, 1944 Patented Feb. 4, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED SIDE MOUNT FUSE INDICATOR AND LOCK-IN DEVICE Application October 10, 1944, Serial No. 558,058

5 Claims. 1 The present invention relates to electrical fuse indicators of the type capable of giving off a visual signal when the thermal element of the fuse becomes blown or ruptured and more particularly to a combined fuse indicator and lock-in device of the type disclosed in my prior 2,309,517, dated January 26, 1943,

In my former patent I have disclosed support-- ing legs or brackets which are detachably and removably connected to clips for retaining standard fuses of the cartridge typ and an indicator comprising a tube in which is arranged a lamp type indicator of the kind disclosed in the Smalley patent, No. 1,850,813, dated March 22, 1932, which tube or indicator is detachably connected to the supporting legs or brackets and arranged at a position above the cartridge fuse so as to Jock-in the latter and prevent its accidental Withdrawal from its supporting clips. This type of fuse indicator is now being extensively used, but at times it is impractical to install the same in cases where there is not sufiicient room for its mounting between the top of the cartridge fuse and the cover of the fuse box in which the fuse is mounted and therefore it is an object of the present invent on to provide an indicator for cartridge fuses which may be mounted or arranged at one side thereof and when so mounted, will not only be in a posi tion to indicate the inoperative condition of the cartridge fuse, but will assist in securely locking the cartridge fuse within its supporting clip so as prevent the fuse from being dislodged therefrom.

Other objects of the invention are in part on vious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by persons skilled in the art, I have in the accompanying drawing and in the detailed following description based thereupon, set out an embodiment of same.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved indicator, partly in sections, when applied to a stand ard cartridge type fuse.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, in the direction of the arrow points.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, in the direction of the arrow points.

patent,

iii)

Fig, 6 is an end elevation.

Fig. '7 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 7-1 of Fig. 3, in the direction of the arrow points.

Fig. 8 is a detailed horizontal section illustrating the manner in which the arms of the fuse clips are forced together when applying a leg of the indicator thereto.

Fig. 9 is a detailed plain view partly in sections.

Fig. 10 is a plain view of a blank from which one of the legs of the indicator is formed.

Fig, 11 is a detailed perspective of the attaching legs as finally formed from the blank shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a plain View of the blank form from which the other leg of the indicator is formed and Fig. 13 is a detailed perspective view of the leg as is formed from the blank shown in Fig, 12.

The indicator herein referred to is detachably and removably connected to a standard cartridge type fuse and when combined with its particular attaching or supporting elements will not only lock the fuse within its retaining clips, but will establish a better contact therebetween and yet the indicator will be supported at on side of the fuse.

Referring to the drawing I have illustrated a base block or panel board l having connected thereto by means of the binding post or bolts 2 a pair of spaced fuse clips The flattened medial portion of each clip as is better shown in Fig. I of the drawing is clamped down upon the block l by means of the binding post 2 and the outer ends of each clip are formed into a pair of spaced and resiliently supported arms. A pair of concaved and longitudinal extending ridges 4 and 5 are formed with each arm and between these ridges the arms are bulged outwardly to form bowed portions in which normally rest the ferruled contact ends of a. standard cartridge fuse 5. The. outer side of each clip is provided with stops '1 which limit the longitudinal movement of the fuse when seated therein and the outer extremity of each arm of these clips is provided with an angular extension 8, which facilitates the entrance of the fuse within the supporting clips.

Figures 2 and 3 in the drawing better illustrate a standard cartridge type fuse mounted with the clip therefor and Figure 7 illustrates the ferruled end of the fuse as it normally rests within th outwardly bowed portion of the clip arms. The concaved ridges 4 and 5 of clips are arranged at points more closely adjacent an imaginary center line running perpendicularly through the fuse than that of the outwardly bowed portions of arms that partly surround the fuse or the distance between the outer periphery of the fuse. These conventional types of fuse clips make it possible to readily insert or withdraw the fuse and retain the same under normal conditions but should the fuse be subjected to any undue shocks it may be dislodged from its supporting clips causing the electrical circuit in which they are included, to be opened.

The cylindrical fibre tube 9 containing the lamp indicator is identical with that shown in my former patent in order that the same may be employed for top of fuse mounting or side of fuse mounting as conditions may dictate. However, to mount this indicator tube 9 upon the top of a fuse it is necessary to employ the attaching legs as shown in my former Patent No. 2,369,517, but for the side mounting of the indicator tube 9 the attaching legs l3 and is as hereinafter described can only be employed for locking the fuse within its retainingclips. This tube has secured to one end thereof a hook it which latter is capable of detachable engagement with the apertured extension l2 formed with the attaching leg i 3. A knob l i is adjustably connected to the opposite end of the tube 9 by means of a threaded brass insert having an enlarged cylindrical shoulder i l and the latter is capable of being seated with the circular recess formed within the extension 55 of the other attaching leg 56.

Each attaching leg i and it are preferably stamped from sheet metal by first forming the lanks as illustrated in Figures 10 and 12 of the drawing. Each blank has also formed therein a rectangularly shaped opening ll and an arm l8 1 or it. These stampin s are then bent to the form as shown in Figures l3 whereat the openings i? are arranged in the horizontal base sections and the extensions l2, 55, it and as are ar ranged at the upper ends of the side or right angular sections of the legs. The arms 58 and it extend at right angles to the side sections but parallel with the base sections of the attaching legs.

To apply these attaching legs to the fuse clips the outer ends of the arms of the clip are pressed together in a manner as that illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawing until the bulged portions of the clips are permitted to pass through the openings Fl of the legs and upon releasin the arms of the clip the opposed side of the base section of a leg will be seated within the concaved ridges i of the clip to which it is connected as best illustrated in Figure '7. When the legs are so applied an arm it or is will then rest within a concaved ridge 5 of'clip to which it is applied. After so mounting the legs l3 and 5 upon the fuse clips a fuse may be freely inserted into or removed from its clips in the usual manner. To look the fuse 5 within its clips 3 the hook is of the tube 9 is first inserted within the aperture of the extension it of the leg E3. The tube 9 is then swung upon this pivot connection at that end thereof until itis seated within the concave ridges 5 of both clips. The threaded insert of the knob it will pass through the slot 2i formed within the extension to of the leg it until it assumes the position shown in-Figure 9 ofthe drawing. By turning the knob .5 I until the shoulder is rests with the circular recess formed within the extension is thetubefi ill) will be securely locked to the supportin legs l3 and It. The arms l8 and I9 which now rest within the other concaved ridges 5 of the clips are fixedly seated therein and the outer extremities of the clips are so gripped between the arms l8 and i9 and the tube 9 as to prevent the arms of the fuse clips 3 from being spread apart as is also illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawing. As the distance between the outer extremities of the fuse clips 3 is less than that of the diameter of the fuse 5 the latter cannot be removed from its clips and yet the indicator tube 9 is fastened and supported at one side of the fuse. To remove the fuse 6 from its clips 3 it is necessary to first turn the knob it until the shoulder It is out of contact with the extension l3 whereat the knob end of the tube Q may be swun outwardly and then disengage the hook It from the extension E2 in order to remove the tube 9. When the tube 9 is removed the outer extremities of each clip 3 will be free so that by forcing the fuse 5 upwardly through the clips the outer extremities may be spread apart as would permit the fuse to pass from the clips whereupon the fuse may be removed and again inserted within its supporting clips.

My improved mounting not only holds the indicator at one side of the fuse, but effects a better contact between the fuse and its supporting clips as well as locking the fuse within its clips so as to prevent its accidental removal.

Manifestly, the construction herein shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as comes within the scope of my claims, I consider Within the spirit of m invention.

I claim:

1. A combined fuse indicator and lock-in device comprising a pair of clips each having a pair of resiliently supported arms for receiving the contact terminals of the fuse, attaching legs removably supported upon said clips, an indicator for the fuse detachably connected to said legs and arranged adjacent one side of an arm of each of said clips, means formed with said legs for engaging the oppositearms of said clips and cooperating with said indicator for the fuses so as to prevent the removal of the fuse from said clips.

2. A combined fuse indicator and lock-in device comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped retaining clips, the opposed arms of each clip being bowed to receive the ferrule contacts of the fuse when inserted therein, an indicator for the fuse, means for supporting said indicator at one side of said retaining clips and means cooperating with said indicator for preventing the free ends of the arms of said clips from being spread apart as would permit the ferrule contacts of the fuse from being removed from the bowed portions of the arms of said clips. I

3. A combined fuse indicator and lock-in device comprising a pair-of substantially U-shaped retaining clips, the opposed arms of each clip bein bowed to receive the ferrule'contacts of the fuse when inserted therein, attaching legs, means carried by said attaching legs for engaging one arm of each clip, an indicator for the fuse and means for connecting said indicator to said legs for holding the indicator in engagement with the other armof each of said clips.

4. A combined fuse indicator and lock-in device comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped retaining clips, the opposed arms of each clip being bowed to receive the ferrule contacts of the fuse when inserted therein, an attaching leg removably supported upon each clip, an arm formed with each leg and adapted to engage one arm of the clip upon which it is removably mounted, an indicator for the fuse, means for connecting said indicator to said legs whereby it will be held into engagement with the other arms of said clips.

5. An attaching leg for fuse indicators stamped from a single strip of sheet metal forming a base section having an opening therein for receiving a fuse clip, a right angular side section extending from said base section, an arm formed with the upper end of said side section and extending parallel with said base section and an apertured extension formed with the upper end of said side section at a point opposite to said arm.

WILLIAM C. LINTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

